Technology Behind Arcade Games

Change is a strong word linked with technology, for every technology ever created not only changes with time but gets better too. Computers form the basis of all technology today. And arcade games are essentially computers personifying a giant game. As arcade games technology improved, so did the arcade games.

Long time ago, when technology was simple, it was difficult for people to visualize a computer that could actually play a game. When the online arcade game was in 1971, it was considered to be the work of a genius. No wonder that their popularity soared over a short time span. By 1972 Pong was introduced into arcades and later games like Pac-Man and Galaga were added. Nintendo introduced in early 1980s allowed arcade games to be played in the comfort of your own home.

Improved technology behind arcade games paved the way for so many new innovative games. With the introduction of game consoles like Playstation, Xbox, and the Nintendo, There was no looking back and they have reigned in popularity ever since.

The 1980’s saw many developers experimenting and creating games which used the crisp lines of vector displays as compared to standard raster displays. Battlezone, Tempest and Star Wars were a few of these games which became great hits. But vector technology, due to the high cost factor, soon fell out of favor with arcade game companies.

Experimentation with laserdisc players by developers to exploit the technology for delivering movie-quality animation led to a new revolution. Dragon's Lair from Cinematronics in 1983's, which took three years in the making, was the first game to use this arcade games technology.

Although, arguably, joysticks and buttons remained the favorites for most manufacturers, new game controls cropped up in a few games. While Night Driver included a life-like steering wheel, Paperboy used a bicycle handlebar and Hogan's Alley introduced tethered light guns. Another game Crossbow, which made a debut in this era, used pedals in racing games and a crossbow-shaped light gun.

The arcade games technology soon specialized into smaller units that could be played in homes. The smaller they became, the more portable were they and more popular too. Arcade games have become most popular with children for they can be easily played anytime and anywhere with your friends. Not being expensive to play, and accompanied by the challenges and complications, they offer much more thrill and excitement.